Ripon schools may receive new computers, software

RIPON – Technology has been a big concern at Ripon Unified as of late.

But some relief appears to be in sight.

At the recent San Joaquin County Data Processing Joints Power Agreement meeting, Superintendent Louise Johnson received word that Microsoft would no longer support Windows 3.0 on Windows XP effective March 31.

“We were given a spreadsheet showing the number of computers in our district which must be upgraded or replaced before the deadline,” she reported at Monday’s school board meeting.

In this case, Ripon Unified School District has 147 computers in need of being upgraded and another 112 that must be replaced.

Johnson and Clarice Luis, the district’s Human Resources Manager, found a way to do just that, taking advantage of the new state mandated block grant. This funding option will go towards technology replacement.

That’s about $80,000 for this fiscal year and the following year, Johnson said.

She noted that the usual price for software is $55 per machine with the estimated cost for replacement at $650 per computer. But the district acted immediately, in turn, saving money at $16.25 per computer.

“Additionally, we have 217 computers with Office 2003 which must be upgraded at a cost of $58 per machine,” Johnson said.

All told, the cost for replacements and upgrades range from $87,774 to $93,470, depending on when the software is ordered.

The block grant will certainly help RUSD.

“We’ve been in a desperate situation with our technology,” said Johnson.